Chabad of The Shore's West End Synagogue Application Denied by Zoning Board

The Long Branch Zoning Board of Adjustment denied Chabad of the Shore application to build a synagogue in West End during its Monday night meeting.

The unanimous decision came after three hours of public comment and final testimony from Chabad's attorney and the attorney representing several West End business owners.

Chabad was looking to to build a two-story building containing a 200-seat sanctuary, a 200-person capacity multipurpose room with a kitchen on the second floor, and five classrooms, office space and a room for religious services on the second floor. A large, 51-space parking lot in the rear of the property was also included in the plan.

Board Vice Chairman Jeffrey Ging said he voted to deny the application because the restrictions that were going to be placed on the synagogue "cannot be enforced by the city."

One of the restrictions Chabad said it would adhere to was not allowing more than 200 people in its sanctuary or multipurpose room at any time.

Board member Frank Fischedick said his basic reason for denying the application was because the synagogue was not a permitted use in West End's commercial zone.

Thomas Hirsch, the attorney representing the West End business owners, said synagogues are permitted in almost every zone in the city with the exception of West End's C-3 zone. Hirsch said the types of uses allowed in these zones are outlined in the city's Master Plan which was revised in 2010.

"That is why you have zoning, so you don't allow the erosion of neighborhoods," Hirsch said.

Chabad's attorney Steven Tripp argued that the synagogue would be an improvement for the area and would replace the "eyesore" that is the old West End movie theater and would be an "inherently beneficial use" for the area.

The plan included the demolition of an old movie theater on Ocean Avenue and two stores south of the structure; Mike's West End Deli, which is now vacant, and Lou's Uniforms. There are also two vacant apartments above the stores.

"There's no question that a religious use is inherently beneficial," Tripp said.

Over 30 people from the audience spoke for and against denying the application.

"The movie theater is dilapidated because the current owner is letting it happen," West Long Branch resident Paul Giglio said. "The Chabad has been operating illegally and nobody's stopped it."

Chabad of the Shore currently holds religious services at 620 Ocean Avenue, which is just a few feet from the proposed site. Rabbie Leibel Schapiro admitted that doing so is not a permitted use in the the city's commercial zone.

City resident Rena Levy argued that the synagogue would be a good fit for West End.

"I think a shul is the best thing for the area in terms of parking," Levy said. "If a big commercial store came in, they would use all the parking spaces all the time."